The Lord of the Rings Retrospective

Hello,

I've written quite a long blog piece looking back at at the Lord of the Rings stage show and asking 'What Went Wrong?' as the first in a new series of articles.

You can find it here; http://bit.ly/NDLcDm

Many thanks,

- Harry Zing

Mister Matt: It was not originally in Chicago, but in Toronto.

I saw it in Toronto at the next to last performance there. I too found it the most amazing staging I have ever seen. The set actually became an actor in the show, with so much movement. At over 4 hrs with 2 intermissions, I think most people found it too long. However, for diehard LOTR fans, the story was edited too much, the movies are over 8 without songs. I have read the books (although 30 yrs ago), but my wife found the story hard to follow without knowing the story ahead of time. The music is nice, but with 11 songs in 4 hrs, seemed sparse.

Thank you Harry for writing this. As someone who never saw the production, only the montage clips I would watch over and over, I always wondered what the real problems were with it. I felt like there were only ever two different opinions from critics and theater goers.

One: It was the worst show for "obvious" (but never explained) reasons.
Two: it was the best show ever and everyone should to see it!

It was nice to finally read something that covered everything and gave a very balanced and well thought opinion. Here's hoping it gets that unlikely DVD release.

ErinDillyFan, I think Mister Matt meant HE was coming from Chicago to London the night he saw this.

That is correct. Not always a smart move to see a show the night you fly overseas, but Lord of the Rings actually helped me overcome the jetlag. Luckily, the show was not nearly as long as the Toronto production, which was my greatest fear walking into it.

I'd be curious to know what Act I Finale consisted of that made it such a spectacle, if anyone wouldn't mind sharing.

I'll try my best, but it's sort of hard to describe without gesticulating wildly:

The first act ended with the confrontation of Gandalf and Balrog. Balrog was an impressive and enormous puppet upstage with Gandalf somewhat downstage center. During this standoff, some fog is piped in onstage and wind begins to blow. Paper bits are released as the maelstrom picks up with an incredible fury, looking like leaves and twigs being blown about the massive stage area. Then suddenly, aided by the clever visual cues created by the fog and debris, you can actually see the storm slowly pushing through the proscenium (this was the point where my mind was trying to process what I was actually seeing) and ultimately exploding out into the house with the wind and debris whirling over the heads of the audience. When the house lights come up for intermission, the paper debris is slowly fluttering down into the orchestra seating. I was absolutely glued to my chair with my mouth hanging open.

Whereas previously, Lord of the Rings seemed so drawn out and slow, I was either falling asleep or begging for it to be over (especially in the 2nd and 3rd films), I didn't want this production to end.

There were so many jaw dropping effects during this show it is hard to remember most of them 5 yrs later after only one viewing.

Agreed, which is why I wish I had seen it again. With the promo clips I've seen of the London production, I often wondered if the entire show was filmed professionally. If so, I think it could have a profitable DVD release.

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what is the point of this article ? I do not see any purpose of writing anything about a musical that is dead and buried . Its cruel and un called for to write something so negative about a show that is no longer running.

but why now ? the musical is done and dusted I also think it was a work of art the musical that is
I read it quickly and thought it bad and uncalled for

Updated On: 7/30/12 at 08:07 PM

it was a cruel assessment

it was a cruel assessment

No, it wasn't. But you should meet bryan. I think you two would be perfect for each other.

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